49ers wide receiver Mario Manningham, a former Giant, is interviewed by reporters during media day yesterday in New Orleans. Matthew Emmons/USA Today

NEW ORLEANS — It was probably the greatest catch of Mario Manningham’s career, and it was one of the signature plays of Super Bowl XLVI.

"I know, but I’m tired of talking about it," Manningham said yesterday. "If you see David Tyree, ask him, is he tired of people talking about that?"

Manningham and Tyree are etched in Giants history for their remarkable catches that each spurred a late-game Super Bowl comeback victory against the Patriots.

Manningham is now with the 49ers, and has been hearing a lot about his catch recently, with his new team in the Super Bowl one year later.

But sitting in the Superdome stands at Super Bowl XLVII Media Day yesterday, Manningham didn’t want to talk about that spectacular, toe-tapping, 38-yard sideline grab that helped set up the Giants’ game-winning touchdown last February in Indianapolis.

His left knee was swollen and in a heavy brace, the result of tearing his ACL last month, and he didn’t want to take any attention away from his new teammates.

"I don’t want nobody talking about that," Manningham continued. "These men are about to go and play a Super Bowl. I don’t want to take anything away from them by them saying anything about the catch last year or whatever. It’s a new team, new year, so I’m tired of talking about it. I am, honestly."

Manningham is two weeks out from knee surgery, so he is spending his Super Bowl week rehabbing instead of practicing, doing exercises like leg lifts and icing to keep the swelling down. He suffered a torn ACL — the other ligaments were just bruised — and the hit he took in the Seahawks game in Week 16 was painful for him both to endure and recount.

"The linebacker came from inside out and just dove at my legs," Manningham said. "I don’t like talking about it. I didn’t even know what an ACL felt like, but I knew I did something to my knee, because I heard it like two, three pops on my way down."

So while Manningham has the distinction of being a part of back-to-back Super Bowl teams, his season-ending injury will keep him from playing — or topping last year’s catch — in Sunday’s game against the Ravens.

But he said he can’t complain. "Trying to double up," Manningham said with a smile.

"I’m just glad I’m here," Manningham said. "The team’s going to win. I’m rooting for them; 100 percent I’m behind them. I can’t go out there and put any effort out there, but I’m cool, man. I hope they go out there and just do their thing."

Manningham was a free agent last spring, after playing four years for the Giants, who drafted him. He said he wanted to come back to the Giants, but gave the standard line of understanding the business side of the game.

He signed a two-year contract last March with the 49ers, the team the Giants defeated for the NFC Championship on their way to Super Bowl XLVI.

"I feel like I did something that most people are scared to do, go to the team that you beat to go to the Super Bowl," Manningham said. "Not too many people do that. I felt like I could come in and make an instant impact."

Running back Brandon Jacobs made the same jump from the Giants to the 49ers, but his story didn’t end quite so neatly. Jacobs was suspended, and then later cut by San Francisco at the start of the playoffs, after barely playing this season. Manningham, meanwhile, made a solid impact, with 42 catches for 449 yards and a touchdown.

Manningham may not like talking about his entry in Super Bowl lore, but there’s no disputing that he knows how to perform under the pressure of the game’s biggest stage. And that much, he was willing to talk about with his teammates.

"I just said don’t worry about the crowd, just go out and play," Manningham said. "You know everybody in the world is going to be watching. So just act like we’re at practice."